A chrome billet-style grille is among the many items included in the 302A equipment group, Ford's top option package for the F-150 XLT.

A chrome billet-style grille is among the many items included in the 302A equipment group, Ford's top option package for the F-150 XLT.

Photo: Ford

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The 2017 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 with 5.5-foot box and standard 3.55 gearing is rated to tow up to 11,500 pounds if equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and maximum trailering package.

The 2017 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 with 5.5-foot box and standard 3.55 gearing is rated to tow up to 11,500 pounds if equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and maximum trailering package.

Photo: Ford

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Stowable loading ramps are a handy factory option for getting ATVs or equipment into the bed of an F-150. When deployed, they attach securely to the tailgate, can be extended and when the task is done, the ramps are secured back in their storage area. less

Stowable loading ramps are a handy factory option for getting ATVs or equipment into the bed of an F-150. When deployed, they attach securely to the tailgate, can be extended and when the task is done, the ... more

Photo: Ford

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The optional wheel well liners make cleaning easier and can cut down on noise when the truck is driven off the pavement.

The optional wheel well liners make cleaning easier and can cut down on noise when the truck is driven off the pavement.

Americans snap up tons of F-150s. Ford sold 820,799 F-150s and its Super Duty stable mates last year - or an average of more than 2,200 full-size pickup trucks per day.

With their comfort, room, improved fuel efficiency and versatility, crew cab pickups have begun kicking sedans to the curb as the family hauler of choice. But along with size, tech features, trailer and payload ratings, sticker prices have steadily risen. The 2017 F-150 Limited 4x4 SuperCrew, the pinnacle of Ford's seven-model F-150 pyramid, starts at $64,924, including destination.

Say hello to the F-150 XLT SuperCrew, an excellent candidate for those looking to stand their ground against sky-high sticker prices.

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The 4x2 XLT with 5.5-foot box starts at $37,740 and is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed auto. The fuel efficiency of the base powertrain comes in at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city and 24 highway. The longer 6.5-foot box is more useful, but if you plan to garage the truck, the short bed may be the only option.

The air conditioning and seats are manually adjusted but XLTs do have Ford's handy SecuriCode keyless-entry keypad on the driver's door. There are also power windows, mirrors and a power-locking tailgate.

The crew cab's rear bench seat is split 60/40 and flips up to take advantage of the flat floor or storage spaces under the rear seats. We like the F-150's full complement of gauges that lets involved drivers monitor the truck's vitals, including transmission temperature. Standard running gear consists of 245/70R17 all-season tires on silver-painted aluminum wheels.

With the standard V6's 282 horses at 6,250 rpm and 253 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250, an XLT 4x2 SuperCrew is rated to tow up to 5,000-lbs. If the optional 3.73 axle ratio - available in either open or non-limited slip ($80) or electronic-locking axle ($570) - is selected, the maximum trailer weight goes up to 7,300 pounds.

But money is power. There are several options to boost the F-150 XLT's capabilities. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 pumps out a V8-like 325 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm. Rated at 19 city mpg and 26 highway, the $995 option takes the crew cab's base price to $38,735.

For traditionalists who wouldn't have anything but a V8 under the hood, there's the legacy 5.0-liter V8 that puts out 387 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,850 rpm and 385 horsepower at 5,750. The 302 cu. in. engine takes the XLT's price to $39,535 before options. Fuel efficiency is 15 mpg city, 22 highway.

The big news for 2017 is the powertrain that motivated our test vehicle. New port and direct fuel injection, revamped turbocharger and electronic wastegate and a new variable-displacement oil pump help the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 deliver 375 horses at 5,000 rpm and 470 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm, 10 more horsepower and 50 lb.-ft. more than the previous engine. Paired exclusively with Ford's 10-speed automatic, it's the first time the transmission has been available in the F-150. The $2,595 option takes the starting price to $40,335. (For 2018, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 and 5.0-liter V8 get the 10-speed tranny.)

With the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, the XLT 4x2 can tow up to 11,900 pounds if you've been savvy and made sure your F-150 has Ford's $1,295 max trailer tow package. Packing impressive value, the bundle includes a 3.55 electronic-locking axle, 36-gallon fuel tank (13 more than the standard tank), Pro Trailer Backup Assist with tailgate LED, smart trailer tow connector, trailer brake controller, auxiliary cooler for the transmission fluid and a class IV trailer hitch. And yes, there's more: Ford also throws in an upgraded rear bumper and a stouter front stabilizer bar. (For specifics on the various F-150 powertrains, Ford has a guide on towing, selecting campers and pre-purchase considerations online at http://ford.to/2v8C1ql. The info can be a rich resource even if you don't drive a Ford pickup.)

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost XLT 4x2's EPA fuel economy ratings are 18 mpg city and 25 highway, or 4.8 gallons per 100 miles. Your mileage may vary, but one thing's for certain, the 3.5 EcoBoost propels the aluminum-bodied pickup with strong, steady power that comes on like a turbodiesel. The cabin was quiet with a generous center console/armrest that incorporates lots of storage cubbies. (A bench seat is available that brings the total passenger capacity to six.) A tip of the hat to Ford for including an "always-on" vertical indicator on the instrument panel to show which gear the F-150's in, a point of interest when you have 10 ratios to work with.

Though acceleration is brisk - tests have shown 0-60 mph runs under 7 seconds and Car and Driver magazine reported their turbocharged 3.5-liter V6-powered 4x4 took just 5.7 seconds - the powertrain is a poster child of civility in normal operation. Under light throttle on flat terrain, our lightning blue F-150, a new color for 2017, was in 9th gear by 45 mph.

If the goal is to hold the MSRP to $40,000 or under, its understandable that many consumers would expect to have to forgo niceties such as power seats, leather and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment ecosystem and its good-sized 8-inch touchscreen.

Our XLT loaner, however, came with the 302A equipment group, which piles on extras like power/heated front seats, remote start, reverse sensors, two USB ports and 110-volt/400-watt outlets, 18-inch wheels, chrome billet-style grille and door handles, rear view camera with hitch assist and power adjustable pedals. The $5,245 bundle helped drive the bottom line to $50,715.

But savvy shoppers never buy retail, right? A quick check of the Internet showed Ford Motor Co. is apparently offering some major incentives. One Houston dealer, for example, had a 2017 XLT SuperCrew 4x2 outfitted with the 302A option package for $38,225 thanks to Ford "customer cash" bonuses totaling $5,000.